In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to highlight these wonderful poets whose words truly keep me afloat by speaking to my soul. I've been so thankful for this poets and their work over the past year or so. I turn to their words to relieve stress, to find comfort, to cry, to laugh, to affirm myself, and to heal. I cherish these poets and these collections so much because they so beautifully articulate feelings of heartbreak and pain, childhood, our connections to our ancestors, relationships with ourselves and with others, and so much more. I've carried these books of poetry and prose and shared them to help others heal and be inspired as well.
Here are some beautiful words from these talented artists to help you get through this week. May they speak to you and guide you through anything you may be going through. Enjoy!
Imani All Mine by Connie Rose Porter has been one of my absolute favorite books since I first read it in the seventh grade. I loved and still love reading stories about black girls that feel authentic--stories that felt like they were about people I see in my own life. I had already loved reading and was always getting lost in books long before I read this book but this book holds a very special place in my heart because it took me on an emotional roller coaster. I'm a very emotional person. I feel emotions very intensely and this wonderful piece of literature had me sobbing uncontrollably in my room the morning I finished it when I was supposed to be getting ready for school. I had no idea that books could have that power over me. I fell in love.
I personally think it's a must read. Imani All Mine is a honest and real story that anyone can find themselves in. Imani All Mine tells the story of Tasha, a fourteen-year-old single mother. Throughout this book we see the various impacts of race, stigma, trauma, poverty, and faith on Tasha's life. I was excited to read this book again as a part of The Free Black Women's Library's 2017 Reading Challenge, a book from your childhood. I was really excited to read this book again as an adult and compare the experiences.
Reading it as an adult, what I find the most interesting about this book is Tasha's relationship with religion and Christianity. We're able to see what, I feel, is a very honest relationship with God. One that relies on faith and blessings but also openly questions how this religion can work in a world where horrible things happen to innocent people and where horrible people can be forgiven for the awful things that they have done. This is a challenge for a lot of people trying to maintain their faith when going through difficult times.
"God is a mystery to me."
Another really important part is the description of the way that memories of trauma not only live in our minds but throughout our entire bodies as well. When incredibly stressful or traumatizing events happen to people the impact that they have on their bodies can last for a long time after the initial event happens. In Tasha's world it would be expected to get over things quickly and move on with life but the body remembers.
"The places where there is memory in you. Underneath your tongue. The middle of your bones. The lonesome spaces deep inside."
I loved reading this book again! It definitely took me back to the seventh grade and I discovering some themes I didn't notice when I was 12. I was definitely moved to tears and uncontrollable sobbing again. I'm still so in love with this book. If you have not read this book yet, you definitely should.
Self-care is so important! It's how we take care of ourselves and taking care of ourselves is how we continue to grow and thrive. We face a lot of stress on a daily basis. On some days more than others but stress is a reality and self-care allows us to cope with that stress and sometimes recover from the damage that stress can have on us.
What I learned recently and what I wish I knew before I thought I was broken is that sometimes there are shifts and changes in your self-care. I was finding that some of the things I was doing for self-care no longer interested me. Some of them, like writing, were unfortunately starting to feel more like work. Some of them just aren't convenient for me at the moment like retail therapy. I love it but I need to be saving so it's not the best option for me. Some things became too time consuming like scrap-booking and I felt it was using up some of the creative energy that I could have been putting towards school.
What I was doing for self-care didn't make me feel as good as it used too and I got pretty worried. Thankfully all of my classes this semester have been covering self-care in great depth and I've learned even more about self-care. It's okay if you find that activities or practices that you once enjoyed no longer help you relax or relieve some stress. That just means it might be times to switch things up! Maybe you need to slow it down or speed things up. It's really trial and error.
I used my month long holiday break from school to catch up on some self care because as my Fall semester progressed, it was harder for me to do the self-care activities that I usually enjoyed when I had the time like taking walks or kickboxing. I put on lipstick and dressed up for self-care on days and weeks that were really busy and I had a lot of assignments due. I felt in would increase my productivity too. I haven't don't much research on the link between lipstick and productivity but I did feel cute and I got my work done!
I went a little overboard in planning self-care activites for my break. I somehow obtained enough yarn for a year of craft projects, I got a few coloring books, made a list of shows to watch and catch up on, and my book collection grew 2 sizes. However, life is unpredictable and I mostly slept and colored. I also made one very cute scarf and played The Sims 4 A LOT.
turn off your computer/phone and do something mindless for 30 minutes
meditation
yoga
put on some makeup
wear your favorite anything
write down some of the things your thankful for
watch your favorite movie/show
call someone you love or care about
listen to music
create a new recipe
volunteer/sign up for some community service
play your favorite game
organize something
There are so many unique ways to take care of ourselves and sometimes we need to switch things up because what we're used to is not what may help or be fitting at the time. It's important that we take care of ourselves. Do what feels right for you!
I've always loves award shows because I think it's so inspiring to see people being awarded for their work. I love seeing people so proud of themselves and their peers. It's even more special when there a beautiful women who look like me. Beautiful shades of gorgeous brown skin, amazing women making history. So many women supporting each other. Looking beautiful on the red carpet and basking in excellence! May all the Black Girl Magic from that night continue to inspire us.
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The hugs felt around the world
Viola Davis and her incredible acceptance speech
“'In my mind, I see a
line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and
beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me, over that
line. But I can’t see to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over
that line.’
That was Harriet
Tubman in the 1800s. And let me tell you something: The only thing that
separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy
for roles that are simply not there. So here’s to all the writers, the
awesome people that are Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda
Rhimes, people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be
sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black. And to the Taraji P.
Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies,
the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union: Thank you for taking us over that
line. Thank you to the Television Academy. Thank you.”
♥
Regina King's win and speech
Uzo Aduba's win and speech
And of course, the red carpet
I hope that we continue to see more and more black girl magic. At award shows, in television and movies, in books, and anywhere and everywhere else!
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"The only thing that
separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity."
Summer brings a lot time for people to spend together and a few occasional lazy days when all you want to do is relax. My favorite ways to relax alone or with others is reading, binge watching tv shows, and watching my favorite movies. These are some of my favorite movies that are perfect for summer days or nights.
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Our Song
Our Song is a great coming of age film about 3 girls and their summer together. I first saw this It's actually one of my favorite movies. It's a great summer movie because it takes place during the summer. It's about young girls of color living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. It's about friendships, relationships, growing up, living in an urban environment, and some of the issues that come with growing up with no money like healthcare issues and the struggles of the school system. The story just comes across so honest and real. It's a really good film!
One of the books I read last summer, On the Come Up, is based on the life of Anna Simpson who is one of the stars in the film. A great movie and a great book!
Real Women Have Curves
I first saw this movie back in middle school. This movie does a wonderful job at honestly portraying the relationships that women sometimes have with their bodies. It covers how our relationships with our bodies impact the relationships with the people in our lives. Also, between this movie and Gotta Kick it Up, I became a huge fan of America Ferrera.
Pitch Perfect
Pitch Perfect is such a cute and fun movie. It's a perfect summer movie, I think, because it has everything you need for one of those feel-good movies. There's a love story, friendship, competition, music, and plenty of jokes. I didn't expect to like this movie so much but it's really enjoyable and the soundtrack is incredible! This is a great movie to watch with a group of friends.
The Color Purple
This is just a movie that everyone should see. It's a classic. The book, written by Alice Walker, is also a classic that everyone should see. The Color Purple is a classic. It covers so many things! This movie brings up domestic violence, relationships, child abuse, self-esteem, racism, religion and so much more. I consider this movie to a staple of American culture. With it being such a phenomenal movie, there is an abundance of great scenes but this one below has to be my favorite.
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The following and cute movies for every age! A lot of these movies are cartoons. They're fun and they tend to bring back memories. These movies also have a lot of meaningful lessons and stories in them. Don't let the animation fool you! There are great stories about family, growth, friendships, and so much more!
Lilo and Stitch
The Lion King
(An Obvious Classic)
Despicable Me
Up
Horton Hears A Who
13 Going On 30
--- Love Stories :)
Love and Basketball
The Object of My Affection
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And this movie will just make you cry. I love movies that make me cry.
Tru Confessions
There are so many great movies that I love and would recommend but I don't want to go on forever. I hope you enjoy any movie days that you may get. Water, popcorn, and summer fruit are the perfect snacks for movie nights.
I was so excited to read Toni Morrison's new novel. It was a great read. It covers such an important topic so I found it very interesting. I think it's a must read because it portrays how childhood trauma and pain goes through you for life. I think that's something that a lot of people can relate too. A lot of people have secrets or things in their past that they're still struggling with. Unfortunately, life doesn't slow down or pause for you to cope with your past. Many people unfortunately carry this weight alone because there's this idea that things that happen in your childhood or adolescence are minimal or it's something that you should be over by the time you reach adulthood. None of that is true. Things that happen years ago are still valid experiences that can bring you pain. Experiences in your childhood have an impact on your entire life, your relationships, your outlook on life, everything. Carrying the weight of these experiences can elicit so many experiences like shame, anger, sadness, or confusion. No one should have to go through that alone. What's great about a book like this is that it can start that conversation. It reminds us that everyone is going through or has been through something. Whether or not they share their whole story, their experiences are valid. What they feel is real and they are completely deserving of your love, respect, and understanding.
(TW: Sexual Abuse) This book also talks about childhood sexual abuse. The impact that is has on victims and the people around them. This is a topic that often goes unspoken, especially in the black community. So it may be triggering for some people but it may be a reminder to others that they are not alone in what happened to them.
I also enjoyed the many different relationships in this book. The relationships and bonds between lovers, brothers, friends. There's anger, regret, remorse, love--how those emotions react with one another and so much more. It will make you think of the ways in which we crave love. We all need and want love. There's a lot of emotion and truth packed into a quite small book and I think that's very special. It's real and honest. I definitely recommend it.
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Quotes:
"Correct what you can; learn from what you can't."
"No matter how hard we try to ignore it, the mind always knows truth and wants clarity."
"my sex life became sort of like Diet Coke--deceptively sweet minus nutrition."
“A child. New life. Immune to evil or illness, protected from kidnap,
beatings, rape, racism, insult, hurt, self-loathing, abandonment.
Error-free. All goodness. Minus wrath. So they believe.”
"You don't have to love me but you damn well have to respect me."
“What you do to children matters. And they might never forget.”
“But stars can explode, disappear. Besides, what we see when we look at
them may no longer be there. Some could have died thousands of years ago
and we’re just now getting their light. Old information looking like
news.”
I made a vision binder to put some of my goals and inspirations in one place. My inspiration for my vision binder was a vision board. I've wanted to make a vision board for a long time but I've just never had the space or materials that I wanted for the vision board that I was envisioning. I happened to see this beautiful binder in Target and stood in front of it for a few minutes because I know I didn't need it but I wanted it so I just needed to give it a purpose before I bought it.
I wanted to make sure that my vision binder was a true reflection of me. I've been working on it for about a month and the cool thing about it is that I can keep adding as I go along. It's kind of structured. I put pages as they fit into categories I made but there isn't a table of contents or anything.
The first section is where I put inspirational quotes that I love, affirmations, pictures of people who inspire me, and general self-care reminders. This section really makes me smile. It really brightens my spirits and reminds me to protect my spirit. The next section is my travel section. In that section I have pictures of places that I WILL travel to. I also have pictures of things to do while traveling like skiing, boat rides, and what landmarks I really want to see. The section after that focuses on body health. I have a few recipes and workout routines. I also made sure to put reminders to drink water and nourish my hair as well as my body. The last section I like to call "Motivation & Me." In this section, I put my goals, I put reminders of who I am and what my life journey means to me. I made sure to include pictures of my accomplishments and some of the moments in my life that really push me forward. I have a picture of me working on a campaign and I have a picture from the day I graduated. I also have a long lists of the books I'll be reading in the future and a few magazine articles that really inspired me. This section keeps me focused on my long term life goals. This section motivates me to stick to my goals and to remain true to myself.
My goal is to have a few quiet minutes to myself every day to look through the binder as a form of daily motivation and inspiration. Unfortunately it doesn't happen every day but I do really love looking through it. It's hard work that reminds me of all the hard work and beautiful results that I've already accomplished and all the hard work and beautiful results that my future holds.
I love books! At the beginning of 2014 I made a goal to read more.
That was going well and I was reading for pleasure and loving it. Then I
started grad school and reading for fun took a back seat but I'm so
glad I got to read each and everyone of these books this year. Here is
the list with links to my blog posts about them:
